Build a Stone Patio or Brick Patio

Add a welcoming feature to your backyard with this attractive, long-lasting brick and stone patio. Our design easily adapts to fit your yard. Choose from a wide variety of stone types and brick styles. The result will be permanent and maintenance-free.

Patio Overview

Building a brick and stone patio like ours doesn't take special skills. The casual, free-form design allows you to relax and be creative rather than worrying about precise cutting and fitting.

It's a big project, but we'll tell you everything you need to know to do it. In a nutshell:

Plan the size.

Dig a hole about 10 in. deep, and pack a 6-in. layer of gravel to form a flat base that slopes slightly for drainage.

Set the stones and brick in a layer of sand and tamp them down so the surface is even.

Fill the cracks with sand, tamp again, then landscape around the new patio and you're done.

This project isn't technically difficult, but be prepared to devote a big chunk of time and energy to it. You'll haul many tons of dirt, gravel, stone and brick before you're done. With a small crew of strong and ambitious helpers, you could finish this project in two or three weekends, but working alone at a leisurely pace, you'll spend the better part of a summer.

We assembled our patio from used street pavers that we bought from a brickyard. Individually, the bricks look a little crude, covered with tar and well worn, but the overall effect is perfect. Then we chose tumbled Wisconsin limestone for the border. The tumbling rounds the edges and gives the stone a worn look that complements the rustic appearance of the used pavers.

You may not find the exact materials we used locally; check the stone dealers in your area to see what's available.

This patio costs about as much as a premium-quality wood deck. The cost of stone varies widely, though. Depending on your location, you might spend a lot more or a lot less.

The Character of the Stone Makes This Patio!

Stone varies greatly in color and texture. Visit a number of stone suppliers to see what's available in your area and to check prices. (See the Yellow Pages under “Stone” or “Landscaping.”) We chose 3- or 4-in. thick stone intended for building walls, but any relatively flat stone that's 2 to 4 in. thick will work. Because stone is sold by the ton (we used 5- 1/2 tons), a thinner stone like flagstone would have been more economical, but it wasn't available in the tumbled finish we wanted. If you use thinner stone, don't tamp it with the compactor. It will crack. The stone dealer will tell you approximately how many square feet a ton of each type of stone covers. Order at least 15 percent extra to allow more selection when you're looking for just the right shape.

Concrete pavers are the most economical choice for paving patios. They are available in many sizes and colors. Traditional clay pavers have truer brick color and cost a bit more. Concrete pavers are available at home centers and landscape retailers, but you'll probably have to find a brickyard to buy clay pavers (in the Yellow Pages under “Brick” or online). You'll need about 4-1/2 bricks for every square foot, assuming an average sized 4 x 8-in. brick. It's difficult to figure the exact amount of brick needed for an irregularly shaped patio like this, so order about 15 percent extra.

Step 1: Find a good site

Site planning

A cozy spot is the main requirement for a patio like this.
But you'll also want to consider the following:

Shade. You'll want it. If you don't have it, include shade plants or structures in your plan.

Drainage. Avoid low spots. Pick spot that's well drained.

Slope. A little slope, less than about 1/4 in. per foot, is OK. More than that and you'll have to build retaining walls or regrade the surrounding soil.

Digging complications. Don't build directly under trees. It could damage the tree, and besides, digging out roots is no fun. Contact local utility companies before you dig and have them locate buried lines.

Plan a strategy for getting the materials to and from your patio location. Sand and gravel will arrive in dump trucks that are too heavy be driven on your driveway or in your yard without damaging them. You'll probably have to use wheelbarrows. If it's a long haul, ask your supplier for a smaller truck or skid loader that can get closer.

When you've found a suitable spot, make a rough sketch showing trees, shrubs and gardens, then take measurements. Transfer these measurements to graph paper, letting each square equal 1 ft. Lay tracing paper over your plan and sketch in the stone border and bricks. Experiment with different designs, and when you come up with a plan you like, use it to calculate the quantities of materials and help you place the stones. Remember that this is a casual, free-form patio. Have fun and let the plan evolve as you work.

Step 2: Order the base materials and stone

It's what's underneath that counts.
Stone and brick are what you see, but the landscape fabric, gravel and sand are what hold them together and make your patio last. If your stone or brick supplier doesn't have these products, check online or in the Yellow Pages under “Landscape Equipment and Supplies” or “Sand and Gravel.”

Landscape fabric stabilizes the soil underneath the gravel base by keeping them apart while allowing water to drain through. We used 12-1/2 ft. wide, heavy, woven stabilization fabric purchased from our stone supplier. If this isn't available, use the widest landscape fabric you can find.

Class V (“five”) limestone forms the foundation of our patio, but there may be different materials available in your region. Any granular fill will work as long as the size of the granules ranges from 3/4 in. down to a powder and they're angular, not smooth and round. These qualities allow the fill to be tightly packed for a firm base that allows water to drain through. A mixture of recycled concrete and asphalt is widely available and is a good substitute for Class V.

Depending on your soil, you'll need a 4- to 10-in. thick layer of gravel. Sandy soils require less gravel than soils with organic matter or clay. Gravel is sold by the ton or cubic yard. One cubic yard (27 cu. ft.) covers about 50 sq. ft. at a 6-in. depth by the time it's compacted, and weighs 1-1/2 tons. We used 12 tons of gravel.

Coarse washed sand is spread over the gravel in a 1-in. layer to form a setting bed for the stone and brick, and later to fill the cracks between the bricks and stone. We used 5 tons of sand.

Figure A: How the Layers Go Together

Note: You can download Figure A and enlarge it from the additional information below.

Step 3: Flatten and pack the base

Photo 1: Mark the patio outline

Outline the patio with a garden hose. Then mark 6 in. beyond the perimeter with spray marking paint. Also align adjoining paths.

Photo 2: Establish a slight slope

Tie a stringline to stakes driven at each end of the patio so it stretches in the best drainage direction. Use a line level to adjust the string until it's level. Then lower one end of the string 1 in. for every 10 ft. of length to establish a sloped reference line.

Photo 3: Excavate the patio

Dig out the patio area to a depth of about 10 in. below the finished patio level. Measure from the string to gauge the depth. Hold a level on an 8-ft. straightedge to check areas on both sides of the string.

Photo 4: Spread landscape fabric and gravel

Cover the ground with landscape fabric after tamping it with the plate compactor. Then spread a 2-in. layer of gravel over the top.

Photo 5: Compact the gravel

Wet the gravel and compact it with a rented plate compactor. Make two passes around the perimeter. Then compact the center, first working one direction, then a second pass at a right angle to this. Finally, make two diagonal passes.

Photo 6: Set straight iron leveling pipes

Set a 3/4-in. iron pipe on a 1-1/2 in. thick mound of gravel placed directly under the string. With a tape measure, align its height with the string. With a level, align two other pipes parallel to the first, about 8 ft. to each side.

Photo 7: Level the gravel

Spread a third layer of gravel, 1-1/2 in. thick, between the pipes. Pull a straight 10-ft. 2x4 across the top of the pipes to level it. Pull out the pipes and fill the trenches with gravel, using a trowel to level it with the surrounding gravel. Compact this layer like the previous one.

Pick up your shovel and get ready to move 16 tons of dirt.

But before you start digging, set up a string line across the center of the patio in the direction you want the water to drain. Adjust the string so it slopes 1 in. for every 10 ft. (Photo 2). You'll use this string to gauge the depth of the hole as you dig, and to set the slope of the compacted base.

To keep the patio flush with the yard, you'll have to dig out about 10 in. of dirt, and then find a place to put the excess. That's a lot of dirt. Consider building a raised planter bed or grassy mound in your yard. If that's not possible, you may want to jump-start the project by hiring an excavator with a skid loader and dump truck to dig the hole and haul away the dirt. As a last resort, rent a large trash bin, at least 10 cu. yds., and move the dirt into it with a wheelbarrow. Let the company know you'll be filling it with dirt, though, because it'll likely limit how much you can put in. Use your plan and a garden hose to outline the patio and mark the excavation (Photo 1).

If your soil is soft or soggy, you might have to add more gravel fill to create a stable base. Ask your building inspector or a soil engineer to recommend the right base for you.

Take a well-deserved break when you're done digging. Double-check your calculations for gravel and sand and arrange for deliveries. Then call the rental store and reserve a gas-powered plate compactor or “tamper” (Photo 17). This is a heavy beast; you'll need a trailer or pickup truck and a couple of strong bodies to move it around.

Before you start filling the hole, roll out the landscape fabric, allowing it to extend at least 6 in. beyond the patio all around. Use spikes to temporarily hold it in place. To establish a strong, flat base, follow our two-step procedure. First spread and tamp down two layers of gravel (Photos 4 and 5), each about 2 to 3 in. thick. Then establish a perfectly flat surface with a final 1 to 1-1/2 in. layer (Photo 7) and tamp this down. When you're done, you'll have a solid, flat base that slopes slightly for drainage and is ready for the sand bed, stones and bricks.

Step 4: Set the stone

Photo 8: Set the border stones

Establish the patio height with strings stretched across the edges of the patio. Set the strings parallel to the gravel base and at a height equal to the thickness of a brick (not a stone) plus a 1-in. sand bed plus an extra inch for clearance. Spread a layer of sand. Set a perimeter stone onto the sand bed and wiggle it down into the sand until it's sitting 1 in. below the string. Add sand to raise the height of the stone if necessary. Continue adding stones, assembling them like a jigsaw puzzle.

Photo 9: Level the stones

Level the stones that aren't directly under the string with a 4-ft. level held at a right angle to the original center string line. Tamp high stones down with a rubber-coated hammer handle.

The next step in the project is to lay the stone border. Measure the thickness of a few stones to get an average and compare this with the thickness of the bricks you're using. Then adjust the depth of the sand bed to compensate for the difference in thickness. Your goal is to get the stones and brick even on the top. Set up strings around the perimeter parallel to the gravel base as references for setting the stone.

Setting the stone is like assembling a complicated jigsaw puzzle. It'll take time and patience, but the reward is great. Spread out the stones so you can pick the best shape. Stagger the joints as you fit the stones. If possible, limit gaps to about 1 in.

Step 5: Lay the bricks

Photo 10: Lay in a bed of sand

Set 3/4-in. iron pipes in long mounds of sand using the same procedure shown in Photo 6. Set the top of the pipes high enough so that when the bricks are set on the sand bed, they'll protrude above the stones about 3/8 in. Dump sand between the pipes and drag a straight 2x4 across the pipes to level it. Remove the pipes and fill the trenches. Use a trowel to level the sand in the nooks and crannies around the perimeter.

Photo 11: Snap a base line and 2 perpendicular lines

Snap a baseline onto the sand. You'll use it to align the rows of brick across the patio. Mark the rough center (A) and snap a line at right angles using this method: Measure out an equal distance from the center and make two more marks (B and C). Cross two tapes at the same measurement (length BD = CD). Snap a chalk line from point “D” through point “A.” Then snap a second line half the width of a brick from the first.

Photo 12: Lay bricks along layout lines

Lay a row of bricks along the baseline, aligning the end of the first brick with the perpendicular layout line. Butt them tightly together. Lay another row, aligning the end of the first brick with the second line. Continue laying bricks until one section is complete. Then work out from this section to complete the patio.

Photo 13: Mark cutting line

Mark bricks for cutting. Hold the brick in position and eyeball down to the stone below to sketch the line with a permanent marker.

Photo 14: Cut with a masonry saw

Saw along the line with a water-cooled masonry saw. Set the brick on the sliding bed and slowly push it forward while you guide the blade along the line.

Photo 15: Chip the brick edges

Chip the cut edge of the brick with a brick hammer so it blends with the rough edges of the used brick.

With the border stones in place, it's time to lay the bricks. The simple running bond pattern (Photo 12) we've chosen looks good with the stone border and is easy to lay. Start by screeding out a layer of sand (Photo 10) so that the bricks will end up about 3/8 in. above the surface of the stone. When you run the compactor over the bricks to seat them, they'll settle down flush with the stone.

Snapping chalk lines directly in the sand is the best way to keep your bricks running straight (Photo 11). For the running bond pattern, you'll only need a baseline and two lines perpendicular to the baseline, offset by half the width of a brick. Fill the area with full bricks. Then rent a masonry saw with a wet-cutting diamond blade to cut the border bricks. These don't have to fit perfectly. You can plant ground cover in the large gaps to give your patio a more natural look.

We experimented with a few different cutting methods and settled on the gas-powered masonry saw as the best option for our pavers (Photo 14). The diamond blade on this saw is not nearly as dangerous as a woodcutting blade, but even so, follow safety precautions. Wear rubber gloves, safety glasses and hearing protection. If the rental store doesn't have a gas-powered saw, use an electric tile-cutting saw instead. It'll cut a little bit slower.

Step 6: Spread sand to lock the stones and bricks in place

Photo 16: Pack the edges

Cut 12-in. strips of landscape fabric and fold them up against the stones around the outside perimeter. Pack soil firmly against the stones and fabric.

Photo 17: Tamp the patio

Tamp down the bricks with the compactor to embed them in the sand. Work in a circular pattern from the outside to the center.

Photo 18: Sweep sand into the joints

Spread dry sand over the stones and bricks and work it down into the cracks with a broom. Tamp with the plate compactor. Keep spreading sand and tamping until the joints are full.

When you're done setting bricks, run the compactor over them to settle them in and create a level surface. Keep the compactor moving to avoid breaking bricks or creating a low spot. If your stone is thick like ours, tamp it along with the bricks. Don't tamp thinner stone (2 in. thick or less); it may break.

Before you spread the sand, pack dirt around the perimeter (Photo 16). Then sweep sand into the cracks (Photo 18). If your sand is damp, spread it out to dry before sweeping it into the cracks. If you run short, buy 50-lb. bags of mason's sand at a home center or lumberyard.

Finish up by landscaping around the patio. We added a stone path and a few steps at the upper end of the patio and planted a perennial bed alongside. Our landscape consultant recommended planting a small ornamental tree at the front of the patio to create an inviting entrance. A table and a few chairs gave us the only excuse we needed to sit back and enjoy a well-deserved break.